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t 

DIED, 

At  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
June  ioth,  1884, 
CALVIN  DAY. 


PSALMS,  CHAPTER  37,  VERSE  37. 

“ Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright  ; for  the  end  of  that  man 
is  peace.” 


m MEMOilMM. 


GALVIN  DAY  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Westfield,  Massachusetts,  February  26th,  1803, 
and  was  the  fifth  child  of  Ambrose  Day  and 
Mary  Ely,  his  wife.  His  father  was  a substantial  far- 
mer, owning,  and  occupying  through  life,  from 
early  manhood,  a plea  sandy- situated  farm  lying  about 
three  miles  east  of  what  was  then  the  village  of 
Westfield.  He  was  much  respected  by  his  neighbors 
and  townsmen  for  his  kindly  disposition,  integrity 
and  good  sense,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  of  the  town.  He  died  in  1852,  at  the  age 
of  85  years.  His  wife  had  deceased  in  1838.  He 
was  descended  in  the  sixth  generation  from  Robert 
Day,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford,  through 
Thomas,  son  of  Robert,  who  removed  to  Springfield, 
in  Massachusetts,  and  who  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
family  in  that  State. 


4 


Of  the  other  children  of  Ambrose  and  Mary  Day, 
the  eldest  was  Ambrose,  who  settled  on  a farm  adjoin- 
ing his  father’s,  being,  at  the  same  time,  an  ordained 
preacher.  He  died  in  1879  at  the  age  of  87  years. 

Robert,  the  second  son,  went,  when  a young  man, 
to  New  Orleans,  and  established  a business  there,  in 
connection  with  his  brothers.  He  died  at  the  South, 
unmarried,  at  a comparatively  early  age. 

Albert,  the  third  son,  early  removed  to  Hartford, 
and  lived  there  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  mer- 
chants of  the  city,  and  was,  in  1857-8,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State.  He  died  in  1876,  at  the  age 
of  79  years. 

Mary,  the  fourth  child  and  only  daughter,  married 
Judge  Alfred  Topliff.  The  family  removed  to  Wis- 
consin, where  she  died. 

Horatio  Ely,  the  youngest  son,  became  a resident  of 
Hartford,  and  was,  for  many  years,  a business  partner 
of  his  brother  Calvin.  He  died  June  17th,  1886,  aged 
71  years. 

Calvin  Day  received  his  school  education  in  the 
district  school,  and  later  at  the  Westfield  Academy, 
which  still  flourishes,  and  was  then  noted  among  the 
higher  educational  institutions  of  Western  Massachu  - 
setts.  The  pleasant  life  at  the  Westfield  Academy 
was  a favorite  reminiscence  in  after  years. 

Favorable  circumstances  early  led  to  the  establish- 
ment of  Albert  Day  in  Hartford,  where  he  was  soon 
joined  by  his  brother  Calvin,  and  later,  by  Horatio. 

It  was  in  April  1822,  that  Calvin  Day  removed  to 
Hartford,  just  after  the  completion  of  his  19th  year, 


5 


and  there  he  continued  to  reside  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Soon  after  his  removal,  he  established 
himself  in  an  independent  business,  and  his  success 
was  at  once  assured.  A few  years  later,  in  1828,  the 
brothers,  Albert  and  Calvin,  and  Mr.  Edward  Bolles, 
formed  a partnership  under  the  name  of  A.  & C.  Day 
& Co.,  which  firm  and  that  of  A.  & C.  Day  existed 
until  1842.  In  that  year  Calvin  Day  became  the  head 
of  the  firm  of  Day,  Owen  & Co.,  and  so  continued 
until  his  retirement  in  December,  1862.  The  business 
of  the  firms  named  was  that  of  commission  merchants, 
distributing  the  production  of  various  manufacturing 
establishments,  particularly  cotton  goods,  to  mer- 
chants throughout  the  West,  and  to  some  extent,  in 
the  South.  There  was  thus  formed  a very  extensive 
acquaintance  and  connection  in  those  parts  of  the 
country.  A few  energetic  and  capable  firms  in  Hart- 
ford in  those  years,  conducted  a very  large  business 
of  this  kind,  and  made  the  small  city,  in  spite  of  its 
possession  of  few  or  no  special  natural  advantages  for 
such  a trade,  a quite-widely  known  and  important 
center  of  distribution.  Among  those  firms  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  none  stood  higher  for  ability,  energy  and  in- 
tegrity than  that  of  Day,  Owen  & Co.,  throughout  its 
long  existence. 

Mr.  Day’s  time  and  abilities,  his  remarkable  vigor 
of  mind  and  body,  were  not,  however,  devoted  wholly 
to  his  own  affairs.  In  everything  that  commended 
itself  to  his  judgment,  as  tending  to  promote  the  moral 
or  material  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lived,  or  of  his  fellow  men,  he  felt  a deep  and  intelli- 
gent interest,  and  in  such  matters  as  came  within  his 


6 


sphere  of  action,  he  was  among  the  foremost  workers. 
He  was  felt  as  an  active  power  for  good  in  the  lead- 
ing local  institutions  formed  for  benevolent  purposes  ; 
and  organizations  of  wider  scope,  for  promoting  in 
this  country  and  abroad,  educational  and  religious  in- 
terests, likewise  found  in  him  a strong  supporter  and 
a liberal  friend. 

It  was  noticeable  that  whenever  he  took  part  in 
associations  or  gatherings  of  men  of  affairs,  he  was 
recognized  by  the  best  among  them  as  a leader,  by 
reason  of  his  force  of  character,  the  soundness  and 
penetration  of  his  judgment,  and  his  integrity,  public 
spirit,  fidelity  to  his  associates  and  steadfastness  of 
purpose. 

In  the  political  affairs  of  the  city  and  State,  Mr.  Day 
was  always  influential.  Never  seeking  office  for  him- 
self, and  never  aiming  to  dictate  or  control  nomina- 
tions or  appointments  for  the  sake  of  exercising  power, 
he  was  yet  always  ready  and  prompt  to  do  his  full 
part  in  whatever  tended  to  promote  the  cause  of  good 
government,  local  or  general.  After  having  been  for 
many  years  a pronounced  Democrat,  he  became  one 
of  the  earliest  and  most  strenuous  supporters  of  the 
Free  Soil  movement  in  that  party ; and  at  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  in  1854,  he  was  one  of 
the  prime  movers,  a signer  of  the  address  to  the 
people  of  Connecticut,  and  a founder  of  the  Hartford 
Evening  Press , as  an  organ  of  Free  Soil  opinion.  In 
those  days,  his  most  intimate  personal  associates  were 
John  M.  Niles,  remembered  for  his  services  as  a Rep- 
resentative in  Congress  and  a Senator  of  the  United 
States,  Gideon  Welles,  long  connected  with  the  U.  S. 


7 


Navy  Department  and  Secretary  of  the  Navy  under 
President  Lincoln,  Governor  Joseph  Trumbull,  and 
Chief  Justice  Thomas  S.  Williams ; and  later,  during 
the  trying  times  of  the  Rebellion,  to  no  man  in  the 
State  was  Governor  Buckingham  more  closely  bound 
by  ties  of  mutual  confidence,  affection,  and  of  perfect 
harmony  and  sympathy  of  views.  Governor  Buck- 
ingham frequently  and  emphatically  expressed  his 
obligation  on  this  score. 

Calvin  Day  married  Catharine  Seymour,  daughter 
of  the  late  Charles  Seymour  of  Hartford.  Their 
married  life  extended  over  a period  of  nearly  fifty- 
seven  years,  and  a union  has  seldom  been  blessed 
with  more  of  domestic  happiness,  or  with  more  entire 
sympathy  of  tastes,  beliefs  and  affections.  Mr.  Day’s 
strict  sense  of  duty  imparted  no  tinge  of  moroseness 
or  gloom  to  his  character,  and  the  same  traits  which 
had  made  him  respected  and  loved  in  all  the  other 
relations  of  life,  could  not  fail  to  endear  him,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  as  a husband  and  father. 

The  tone  of  domestic  life  was  heightened  by  hospi- 
tality and  by  travel  at  home  and  abroad.  There  were 
four  children,  all  of  whom  survive  their  parents. 

Mr.  Day  was  with  his  wife  when  she  died  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  March  3rd,  1884.  Their 
separation  was  brief,  for  his  own  long  life  of  useful- 
ness and  honor  was  closed  at  his  home  on  June  10th, 
1884. 

The  mortal  remains  of  husband  and  wife  rest  to- 
gether on  the  beautiful  heights  of  Cedar  Hill,  at 
Hartford. 


8 


Fun&rat  of  Major  &atp 


Ji 


N account  of  the  public  funeral  services  for 
(§/kL  Major  Calvin  Day  appeared  in  the  Hartford 
Courant  of  June  14th,  1884. 

The  services  took  place  at  the  Center  Church  at 
3 o’clock  yesterday  June  13th,  and  were  attended  by  a 
great  number  of  personal  friends,  including  a large  part 
of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  city.  Among  those 
from  out  of  town  were  Nathan  Day,  and  family  of 
New  York,  Horatio  E.  Day  and  family  of  New  York, 
Moses  Pierce  of  Norwich,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bucking- 
ham of  Springfield.  The  American  Asylum,  of  which 
Mr.  Day  was  president,  the  Hartford  Fire  Insurance 
company,  the  Hartford  bank  and  the  Gas  company  were 
present  by  their  boards  of  directors.  There  was  a 
delegation  from  the  active  company  of  the  Governor’s 
Foot  Guards  and  another  from  the  veteran  organization, 
and  the  body  of  the  church  was  nearly  filled  by  those  who 
came  as  individuals  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  a 
man  whom  all  knew  and  esteemed.  The  pupils  of 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum  occupied  portions  of  the 
two  galleries.  The  family  and  relatives  were  seated 
at  the  left  of  the  center  aisle  and  the  pall-bearers  at 
the  rigfht. 

o 


These  latter  were  : Gordon  W.  Burnham  of  New 
York,  Major  Roland  Mather,  the  Hon.  W.  R.  Cone, 
George  Sexton,  the  Hon.  F.  B.  Cooley  and  Judge 


9 


Nathaniel  Shipman.  The  pulpit  was  very  beautifully 
decorated  with  flowers,  and  in  front  of  it  was  placed  the 
casket,  which  was  covered  with  flowers  and  bore  the 
inscription:  “Calvin  Day,  born  in  1803,  died  in 
1884.”  The  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  George  Leon  Walker  of  Hartford  and  the  Rev. 
Dr.  George  H.  Gould  of  Worcester.  The  music  was 
in  charge  of  Mr.  N.  H.  Allen,  the  organist  of  the 
church,  and  the  choir  was  composed  of  Mr.  C.  S. 
Langdon,  Miss  Flora  L.  Hyde,  Mr.  Clarence  Bryant  and 
Mr.  Louis  Gundlach.  Chopin’s  prelude  in  C minor  was 
played  as  an  introduction  and  was  followed  by  a 
chant,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  hymn, 
“ There  is  a blessed  home.” 

Dr.  Walker  then  delivered  the  following  address  : 


ELLOW  MOURNERS  AND  FRIENDS:  We  are  gathered 


L here  to-day  by  an  event  of  unusual  signifiance  to  this  church 
and  to  this  general  community.  The  members  and  the  quality  of 
this  assembly,  indicate  clearly  that  something  has  befallen  which 
touches  society  at  many  points,  and  with  more  than  customary  im- 
pressiveness. Death  is  not  an  unfrequent  event  among  us ; has 
indeed  been  very  frequent  of  late  among  the  customary  worshippers 
in  this  sanctuary ; but  the  death  of  Calvin  Day  has  something  in  it 
which  appeals,  not  to  the  family  affection  only,  not  to  the  affection 
of  a wide-extended  social  connection  alone,  not  to  the  interest  and 
welfare  of  an  old  ecclesiastical  organization  which  mourns  his  de- 
parture merely,  but  to  the  community  in  which  we  dwell,  and  to 
those  common  moral  feelings  which  belong  to  the  best  portion  of 
all  the  inhabitants  of  this  place. 

The  language  of  eulogy  on  a funeral  occasion  is  almost  al- 
ways easy.  It  is  a sweet  and  natural  instinct  in  our  human  na- 
tures, whatever  we  may  say  of  the  living,  to  love  to  say  and  hear 
good  things  of  those  who  have  gone.  But  I am  admonished  by  the 


IO 


very  life  and  the  character  of  the  man  of  whom  I speak,  to  speak 
simply  and  without  exaggeration.  He  was  above  all  things  else 
himself,  a man  of  directness  and  sincerity.  He  had,  if  more  strongly 
than  for  anything  else,'  a dislike  of  display  and  pretense.  Sober  and 
unenthusiastic  in  his  estimates  of  other  men,  and  clear  and  truth- 
ful in  his  utterances  when  called  to  speak  concerning  them,  it  be- 
comes us  to  be  likewise  (as  he  himself  would  demand)  standing 
to-day  by  his  bier. 

Calvin  Day  was  born  eighty-one  years  ago  in  our  sister  state 
of  Massachusetts,  in  the  town  of  Westfield.  He  came  of  a sturdy, 
long-lived  and  godly  ancestry.  The  influences  of  his  boyhood 
home  were  those  of  the  typical  New  England  household  of  eighty 
or  a hundred  years  ago,  the  households  of  the  old  Puritanic  sim- 
plicity, honesty  and  strength,  out  of  which  have  come  so  large  a 
portion  of  whatever  is  noblest  in  our  land.  In  his  youth  the  boy 
was  accustomed  to  walk  some  miles  to  and  fro  to  the  academy  of 
his  native  town,  where  he  got  his  direct  tutorial  instruction.  But 
he  had  all  along,  the  instruction,  better  I think  than  any  college 
or  university  can  give,  of  sound,  healthy  home -life,  of  nature,  and 
of  the  farm.  The  city-bred  lad  may  have  his  advantages,  but  he 
has  not  the  supreme  advantage  of  that  direct  contact  with  nature’s 
transcendent  and  variant  schooling  which  the  country-boy  has ; 
and  there  is  no  place  for  making  a lad  many-sided,  self-reliant, 
forecasting  and  provident,  like  a home  on  a farm. 

Just  when  the  lad  passed  out  from  the  direct  watch  and  care 
of  the  household  in  which  he  had  been  bred  and  disciplined,  and 
wove  the  nature  and  success  of  his  first  ventures  in  life’s  occupa- 
tions, I can  not  say.  Nor  do  I here  feel  it  important  to  follow  in 
any  minute  detail  the  outward  events  of  Mr.  Day’s  personal  history. 
These  have  been  narrated  elsewhere.  The  daily  papers  have  told 
us  of  his  removal  to  Hartford,  and  his  commencement  in  business 
here  not  far  from  the  spot  where  we  are  now  gathered ; of  the 
characteristic  far-sighted  sagacity  which  enabled  him  here  to  orig- 
inate a new  method  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  partnership 
he  and  his  brother,  Albert,  established,  and  of  building  up  at  this 
inland  and  almost  provincial  spot,  a business  rivaling  and  surpass- 
ing similar  houses  in  the  metropolitan  cities  of  the  seaboard. 

They  have  told  us  how,  as  time  went  on,  Mr.  Day  became 


II 


identified  with  one  after  another  of  Hartford’s  corporate  financial 
institutions — insurance,  banking,  manufacturing — and  how,  in 
whatever  one  of  them  he  took  part  his  counsels  were  always  heed- 
ed as  those  of  one  of  the  soundest  of  advisers  and  clearest  leaders 
of  men.  They  have  mentioned  his  long  association  with  the  be- 
nevolent institutions  of  the  city,  and  his  protracted  and  self-sacri- 
ficing services  on  the  boards  of  the  asylum  for  the  deaf  and  dumb 
and  the  retreat  for  the  mentally  troubled.  They  have  narrated 
for  us  some  outlines  of  the  part  he  took,  with  characteristic  inde- 
pendence of  party  trammels  and  of  old  associations,  in  originating 
here  in  Connecticut  the  political  organization  which  was  to  voice 
audibly,  and  at  last  successfully,  the  pent-up  indignation  of  the 
moral  sense  of  the  land  against  the  great  wrong  of  hum:in  slavery. 
They  have  set  forth — though  it  may  be  questioned  if  they  have 
adequately  set  forth — the  way  in  which  (after  the  battle  of  free- 
dom was  transferred  from  the  field  of  debate  to  the  field  of  arms) 
Mr.  Day  became  one  of  the  most  efficient  promoters  of  Connec- 
ticut’s honorable  part  in  the  civil  war;  contributing  generously 
with  his  money  and  lavishly  of  his  labor  in  all  those  weary  days 
of  anxiety  and  of  blood.  The  story  of  that  period  here  in  Con- 
necticut wonld  be  incomplete,  and  the  biography  of  that  governor 
of  the  state  whose  statue  is  next  week  to  be  unveiled  amid  gen- 
eral popular  acclaim  would  be  incomplete,  were  not  the  great  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Day  in  those  days  of  divided  counsels,  of  heroic  sac- 
rifices. of  victorious  achievements,  accorded  an  important  place. 
They  have  sketched  for  us  an  honest,  strong,  successful,  useful 
life,  which  in  view  of  the  facts  thus  narrated,  has  made  this  place 
a better  one  for  his  having  lived  in  it ; and  laid  the  whole  com- 
munity under  obligation  to  him  who  carried  the  “good  grey  head 
which  all  men  knew”  and  all  men  honored. 

But  good  and  honorable,  and  potent  for  our  whole  community’s 
welfare  as  is  the  story  of  the  life  which  has  thus  been  told  us,  we, 
gathered  in  this  Christian  sanctuary  to-day,  and  professing  our- 
selves for  the  most  part,  I suppose,  an  acceptance  of  the  Christian 
faith  of  which  this  house  of  worship  is  a visible  symbol,  can  hardly 
stop  with  these  matters.  We  are  not  permanent  dwellers  here. 
This  life,  with  all  its  vast  and  complicated  interests,  is  not  the 
whole  of  being,  nor  does  action  respecting  it  comprise  the  whole 


of  duty.  And  the  little  glimpse  of  what  is  beyond  which  is  alone 
of  authoritative  and  sanctifying  quality  comes  to  us  through  the 
lens  of  revealed  truth.  And  that  truth  gathers  up  in  the  person 
and  sayings,  the  life  and  deeds  of  Jesus  Christ.  Had  I forgot 
these  things  to-day  and  failed  to  remind  you  of  them  as  the  su- 
preme things  of  importance  to  us,  that  empty  pew  and  these  silent 
walls  would  speak  out  in  utterance  of  them.  For  Calvin  Day  was 
not  simply  an  honest  man,  and  a useful  citizen,  he  was  a sincere 
Christian. 

His  interest  in  this  spot,  where  we  shall  miss  his  face  so  sorely 
hereafter,  was  not  that  chiefly  of  a loyal  parishioner  in  an  ecclesi- 
astical society.  To  this  organization  simply  as  such,  he  was  in- 
deed an  ever  faithful  friend ; and  many  a feature  of  this  altered 
structure  itself,  so  different  from  what  it  was  when  some  eyes  here 
first  looked  on  it — the  arched  ceiling  over  our  heads,  these  lowered 
galleries  on  either  side,  this  pulpit — are  all  in  a very  direct  way  a 
kind  of  monument  to  his  interest  in  this  place,  and  to  the  long 
exercised  superintendence,  almost  control,  he  had  of  things  re- 
lating to  this  society's  affairs. 

But  his  interest  in  the  society  and  the  house  was  but  the  husk. 
The  kernel  was  the  gospel ; and  the  church  gathered  by  the  gos- 
pel’s characteristic  power.  When  Mr.  Day  may  personally  have 
experienced  his  first  impressions  of  the  gospel’s  saving  power  I 
cannot  say;  but  he  united  with  this  church  by  the  confession  of 
his  faith  in  Christ  as  his  Saviour  in  June,  1838.  It  was  a year  of 
revival  in  this  place,  and  there  were  eighty  persons  added  to  this 
membership.  That  was  the  twentieth  year  of  Dr.  Hawes’s  pas- 
torate, and  the  minister  was  in  the  zenith  of  his  power.  The  re- 
vival took  hold  of  strong  men  and  mature  women  who  have  been 
felt  in  the  church  ever  afterward.  Side  by  side  with  Mr.  Day  in 
that  public  act  stood  Catharine  Seymour,  his  wife,  one  with  him 
in  the  consecration  of  that  June  Sabbath  hour,  as  in  all  the  sym- 
pathies and  services  of  the  nearly  forty-six  years  of  Christian  fel- 
lowship which  came  after. 

A public  profession  of  submission  to  Christ  and  of  allegiance 
to  his  cause  does  not  always  verify  its  genuineness  in  the  after 
life.  In  Mr.  Day’s  case  it  did.  And  not  only  its  genuineness,  but 
its  power.  And  just  here,  I venture  to  say  in  the  presence  of  all 


!3 


who  may  have  known  him  little  or  much  in  this  assembly,  we 
touch  on  the  central  fact  of  the  life  of  the  man  we  honor  and 
bury  to-day.  His  was  a life  governed  by  Christian  principle.  Mr. 
Day  was  a man  of  strong  natural  passions  and  impulses.  He  had 
a dominating  and  almost  imperious  will.  He  was  fully  open  to 
the  average  amount  of  human  nature’s  besetments  and  tempta- 
tions. Why  is  it  that  his  name  has  stood  for  more  than  a genera- 
tion past  in  this  community  a synonym  for  whatever  is  honest, 
pure,  benevolent  and  Christian?  There  can  be  but  one  answer. 
Throughout  this  long  period  all  have  recognized  the  thorough 
sincerity  of  his  religious  character.  His  piety  was  not  an  exuber- 
ant and  demonstrative  type,  but  it  was  deep  and  devout.  The 
language  and  the  manner  of  its  manifestations  were  marked  by  a 
profound  sense  of  reverence  and  awe.  God  was  very  great. 
Prayer  was  a solemn  act.  Worship  was  not  a light  and  recreative 
thing ; it  was  a serious  and  earnest  business. 

His  mind  took  strong  hold  of  the  great  facts  and  principles  of 
the  gospel ; his  heart  consented  to  them ; he  was  never  severed 
from  them.  This  was  what  led  him  to  be  the  man  of  philan- 
thropic feeling  he  was,  responsive  to  the  needs  of  the  orphaned, 
the  mentally-beclouded,  the  deaf  and  the  dumb. 

This  was  what  reached  beyond  the  mere  instincts  of  kindness, 
or  even  the  principle  of  benevolence,  and  made  him  take  hold  of 
the  distinctive  Christian  enterprises  of  the  gospel  at  home  and  in 
distant  lands  with  such  sympathetic,  intelligent  and  generous  co- 
operation. This  is  what  gave  him  a recognized  and  honored 
place  on  such  corporations  as  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, an  institution  which  has  no  significance  unless  the  souls  of 
men  are  in  danger  without  the  saving  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ. 
This  is  what  made  our  departed  brother  one  of  a wider  and  higher 
brotherhood  than  any  directorship  or  leadership  of  financial,  or 
humanitarian,  or  civil  organizations  can  give — a fellowship  of  large 
labors  in  Carist’s  service,  whose  loss  will  be  not  merely  locally  de- 
plored, but  deplored  by  all  our  great  missionary  societies,  and  by 
many  a toiling  laborer  in  frontier  and  heathen  lands.  This,  in 
the  narrower  sphere  of  this  church,  made  him  to  its  pastor — who- 
ever that  pastor  might  be — the  right-hand  man  for  counsel  and 
support.  Loyal  to  the  church  and  its  minister  through  whatso- 


ever  changes,  we  who  remain  behind  him  lift  up  our  lament. 
“How  is  the  strong  staff  broken  and  the  beautiful  rod ! ” He  loved 
this  old  church.  There  was  to  him  a dearness  in  its  stones,  and 
he  favored  the  dust  thereof.  Its  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare 
were  ever  dear  to  him.  His  purse  was  ever  wide  open  at  the  in- 
dications of  its  need.  We  shall  miss  him  sorely. 

How  hard  it  was  to  think  of  Mr.  Day  as  upwards  of  80  years 
old  ! It  was  not  his  erect  and  elastic  form  which  deceived 
one,  so  much  as  his  alert  and  interested  concern  in  all  things 
which  concerned  living  men.  There  was  nothing  of  the  retired 
old  man,  a mere  spectator  of  affairs,  about  him.  He  was  active 
and  co-operative  to  the  end. 

Of  Mr.  Day’s  family  relationships  this  is  no  place  much  to  speak. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  life  brought  to  him  perhaps  an  unusual  meas- 
ure of  its  blessings,  yet  accompanied  by  some  vicissitudes  and  tri- 
als, and  in  its  latest  months  what  he  felt  to  be  a transcending  sor- 
row. Beneath  a reserved  and  even  rather  cold  exterior,  he  car- 
ried one  of  the  warmest  hearts  which  ever  beat.  Little  things  un- 
expectedly touched  him.  Little  attentions  moved  him  as  you 
would  not  have  thought.  And  standing  beside  his  grave  to-day,  I 
should  do  injustice  alike  to  him  and  myself,  and  to  the  pastor 
who  has  lately  gone  before  me,  not  to  say  that  these  little  re- 
membrances and  tokens  of  personal  thoughtfulness,  which  show 
the  warm  heart,  and  win  any  hearts,  were  oftener  manifested  to- 
ward the  pastor  of  the  church  by  this  resolute,  and  of  late  aged 
man,  than  by  any  beside. 

But  all  this  hidden  sweetness  beneath  the  shell  of  general  re- 
serve was  best  known  to  his  family  circle.  He  was  a knightly  hus- 
band. There  was  something  chivalric  and  wonderfully  beautiful 
in  the  thoughtful  little  attentions  of  this  outwardly  austere  man 
to  the  wife  of  his  youth  and  of  his  age,  who  passed  on  so 
short  a time  before  him,  left  by  her  absence  as  much  a lover  for- 
saken as  had  she  died  an  hour  after  their  betrothal.  He  loved  his 
home.  It  was  the  best  of  places  to  him.  When  she  went  from  it, 
it  was  easy  to  follow.  And  now  he  is  gone  onward  as  in  a mo- 
ment. Without  severe  suffering  ; in  the  full  possession  of  every 
faculty ; from  the  midst  of  a loving  household ; honored  by  the 
community  where  he  has  spent  his  days  ; known  across  the  breadth 


15 


of  the  land  as  a man  of  Christian  faithfulness  and  liberality  ; be- 
loved by  this  church  and  in  the  quiet  confidence  of  Christian 
hope,  what  more  could  one  ask  for  him  ? Such  a life  is  its  own 
best  eulogy.  Let  us  leave  it  where  it  is. 

“ Nothing  is  here  for  tears  ; nothing  to  wail 
Or  knock  the  breast,  no  weakness,  no  contempt, 
Dispraise  or  blame  ; nothing  but  well  and  fair, 

And  what  may  quiet  us  in  a death  so  noble.” 

Or  rather,  since  the  life  which  has  now  come  to  its  earthly  end 
was  a Christian  life,  and  the  death  is  the  death  of  one  who  died 
in  the  Lord,  shall  we  not  rather  take  up  a nobler  strain  even  than 
that  of  Milton,  and  say  : 

“ Servant  of  God,  well  done, 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ. 

The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 

Enter  thy  Master’s  joy.” 


i6 


ADDRESS 


BY 


REV.  GEORGE  H.  GOULD,  D.  D., 


OF  WORCESTER, 


A former  Pastor  of  the  Church. 


T the  risk  of  prolonging  this  service  I cannot  forbear  to  lay 


^ A my  tribute  of  a few  words  on  the  bier  of  my  friend.  For 
twenty-seven  years  Calvin  Day  has  been  my  personal  friend,  faith- 
ful, steadfast,  loyal  and  true.  During  my  ministry  here  he  was  my 
honored  and  beloved  fellow-worker  unto  the  kingdom  of  God  with 
whom  perhaps  I was  brought  into  closer  relations  than  with  any 
other  member  of  this  church.  To  take  his  name  from  the  official 
history  of  this  church — in  all  that  pertains  to  its  fiscal  and  adminis- 
trative affairs — for  the  last  twenty-five  years,  would  be  to  erase  no 
small  part  of  its  records,  for  that  period  of  time.  Although  he  never 
belonged  to  its  diaconate,  or  sought  its  most  sacred  honors,  no  one, 
I am  sure  carried  on  his  heart,  during  all  those  yeais,  more  sincerely 
its  spiritual  as  well  as  its  temporal  interests.  By  the  whole  training 
and  habit  of  his  life  Mr.  Day  was  a business  man.  But  he  carried 
his  religion  into  his  business — and  his  business  gifts  into  his  reli- 


gion. 


He  was  a man  of  rare  wisdom.  He  combined  a sound  pene- 
trating judgment,  with  remarkable  executive  force.  He  had  al- 
most an  intuitive  knowledge  of  men.  He  read  character  at  a 
glance,  and  he  read  it  deeply  and  well-nigh  unerringly.  He  was 
never  misled  by  self-pretention,  or  the  mere  glitter  of  superficial 


*7 


qualities  Above  all  gifts  of  grace,  he  prized  and  demanded  in 
his  minister,  and  his  friends,  genuineness.  To  him  genuineness 
was  the  root- virtue  of  both  public  and  private  life.  No  brilliancy 
of  intellect  or  eloquence  of  lips  could  atone  for  its  absence. 
He  abhorred  heresy  in  character,  even  more  than  in  theology. 
By  instinct  he  was  a conservative,  by  principle  he  was  a progres- 
sionist. 

All  his  feelings,  affections,  sentiments,  anchored  him  to  the 
past.  He  loved  the  old  paths.  His  heart  cluug  to  the  old  ways, 
the  old  places,  the  old  customs,  the  old  friends.  Every  change 
that  occurred  in  church,  or  family,  or  community,  it  used  to 
seem  to  me,  first  of  all  gave  a painful  wrench  to  his  feelings. 
And  yet  he  had  too  powerful  a will  and  too  clear  an  intellect, 
and  too  fervent  a faith,  to  allow  himself  to  be  handicapped  by 
unreasoning  sentiment,  or  even  the  most  sacred  affections.  He 
believed  in  progress — in  the  on-march  of  ideas — the  final  en- 
franchisement of  humanity  and  the  latter  day  glories  of  God’s 
church  below. 

With  all  his  conservatism  then,  he  was  never  a croaker,  or  a 
pessimist.  He  never  was  heard  to  say,  “ the  former  days  were 
better  than  these.”  He  put  himself  abreast  with  his  times.  He 
lived  in  the  present.  He  had  sympathy  with  the  young.  Hence 
down  to  the  last  years  of  his  life — until  physical  infirmity  ne- 
cessitated his  partial  retirement — he  held  unweakened  his  position 
of  influence  in  the  church,  and  in  the  confidence  of  his  brethren, 
as  a wise,  sagacious,  upright  and  single-hearted  servant  of  God, 
and  his  generation.  Mr.  Day  was  one  of  those  men,  whom  it 
would  be  difficult  to  think  of  as  superannuated,  as  shelved  in 
business  and  affairs,  or  left  behind  in  the  march  of  life.  In  a very 
important  sense  he  was  a young  man  down  to  the  very  last. 

Calvin  Day  once  a friend,  was  a friend  for  ever.  He  was  not 
hasty  to  give  his  confidence.  He  was  considerate  and  cautious  in 
his  personal  attachments — but  once  attached,  he  grappled  his  friends 
to  his  heart,  as  with  hooks  of  steel.  As  a friend  he  was  never  found 
with  that  fickle  multitude,  who  to  day  cry  “ hosanna,”  and  to- 
morrow “ crucify  him.”  His  confidence  once  given  only  the  most 
complete  and  hopeless  bankruptcy  of  character  could  destroy — and 
even  then  his  tender,  wounded  love  lingered  around  the  offender — 


i8 


as  the  wood  of  the  sandal  tree  perfumes  the  very  axe  that  rives  and 
hews  it  to  the  ground. 

Mr.  Day  was  a Christian  gentleman.  He  punctiliously  obeyed 
the  Apostolic  command,  “ Be  courteous.”  His  sense  of  personal 
honor,  indeed,  was  of  the  chivalric  type.  Nevertheless,  he  was  a 
man  of  decided  opinions.  He  had  a mind  of  his  own.  He  had  a 
will  of  his  own,  and  his  mind  so  intuitively  reached  its  conclusions 
and  his  wall  was  so  habituated  promptly  to  execute  the  conclusions 
of  his  mind  and  his  judgment,  that  possibly  at  times  he  did  not  with 
sufficient  patience  give  proper  weight  to  the  slower  mental  processes 
of  his  less  practical  and  less  energetic  brethren.  But  whatever  di- 
vergency of  view,  or  friction  of  opinion  might  arise,  he  never  laid 
aside  the  bearing  or  the  spirit  of  a Christian  gentleman — and  he 
never  failed  to  convince  all  who  differed  with  him,  that  his  heart 
was  pure,  his  purpose  true,  and  his  supreme  desire  ever  to  do  the 
best  thing,  and  secure  the  highest  good  of  all. 

He  was  emphatically  a man  of  religious  principle.  He  was  not 
without  religious  emotion,  but  he  seldom  gave  it  free  rein.  His 
mind  abhorred  mysticism,  and  all  religious  affectation,  as  nature  ab- 
hors a vacuum.  He  was  himself  thoroughly  practical,  an  intense 
realist  in  all  his  views  of  life  and  views  of  men.  He  was  subject  to 
no  religious  spasms ; what  he  was  one  day,  he  was  the  next,  what 
he  was  one  week  he  was  the  next  week  and  the  next  month.  His 
religion  was  consistent,  it  tallied  with  itself  season  by  season,  and 
year  by  year.  He  had  a sound  faith,  and  a deep  personal  experience, 
but  he  did  not  say  much  about  either.  He  was  a man  of  deeds 
rather  than  words.  Like  James,  he  preferred  to  “ show  his  faith  by 
his  works.’*  He  stood  at  his  post.  He  was  a man  to  be  relied  on 
in  an  emergency.  He  was  not  simply  a fair-weather  hearer,  or  a 
fair-weather  friend.  His  life  moved  out  from  the  center  of  con- 
science rather  than  feeling.  He  was  trained  under  a ministry  that 
believed  in  the  Old  Testament  as  well  as  the  New,  and  that  the  ten 
commandments  are  not  yet  abrogated  in  theology  or  in  life.  Per- 
haps the  thunders  of  Sinai,  to  the  last,  lingered  in  his  ears  a little 
more  audibly  than  than  the  mercy  Calls  of  Calvary.  But  those  old- 
time  pulpits  did  stanch  and  solid  work  in  their  day.  They  somehow 
had  the  art  of  laying  character-foundations  that  could  last.  The 
built  men,  as  ocean-ships  are  built,  ribbed  and  stanchioned  through 


19 


and  through  with  the  live  oak  of  moral  principle,  and  thus  able  to 
bear  the  strain  of  the  stormiest  life-experiences — an  art  of  man-build- 
ing, and  character-building,  that  possibly  the  modern  pulpit  is  not 
improving  upon. 

Mr.  Day  was  a benevolent  man  by  temperament,  but  far  more  by 
principle.  He  gave  away  on  principle,  and  he  gave  liberally,  system- 
atically, continuously.  He  recognized  as  a central  article  of  his 
creed,  personal  stewardship  to  the  Divine  Master  he  served,  and  in 
whom  he  rested  all  hopes  for  this  world  and  the  next. 

I have  no  time  or  purpose  now,  to  speak  of  Mr.  Day  as  a citizen. 
For  more  than  a generation  his  life  had  been  honorably  intertwined 
with  the  whole  public  life  and  growth  of  this  city.  His  removal  now 
from  so  many  of  your  great  financial  institutions,  and  as  officer  or 
director  in  the  administration  of  so  many  of  your  public  charities, 
will  be  almost  like  the  removal  of  some  central  pillar  from  a stately 
temple. 

I hesitate  to  enter  the  sanctuary  of  that  stricken  home.  But  I 
first  knew  Mr.  Day  in  his  home.  I knew  him  as  husband,  father, 
friend,  for  some  years  before  it  fell  to  me  to  know  him  in  the  more 
public  relation  of  pastor  to  parishioner.  And  I then  learned,  what 
subsequent  years  confirmed,  that  the  strong  man  of  indomitable 
business  energy  and  capacity,  and  with  the  shoulders  of  a giant  to 
carry  public  responsibilities  at  his  own  home,  was  a little  child  with 
a child’s  heart  and  a child’s  simplicity.  No  wonder  those  wedded 
hearts  were  sundered  for  so  short  a time.  -Life  was  so  knit  to  life. 
Only  those  within  the  sacred  circle  knew  the  lover-like  devotion 
that  for  so  many  years  brooded  over  the  dear  invalid  companion — 
a devotion  that  seemed  to  perpetuate  the  gentle  gallantries,  and  the 
sweet  fidelities  of  the  bridal  day  through  more  than  fifty  years  of 
married  life.  Father  and  Mother  are  now  gone.  God  comfort  the 
mourning  home. 

Mr.  Day  is  among  the  last  of  that  noble  body-guard  of  official 
helpers  who  first  welcomed  me  to  the  pastorate  of  this  Church  and 
stood  faithfully  by  me,  in  my  ministry  here.  Ellsworth,  Stone,  Ward, 
Hudson,  Barbour,  Church,  Goodwin,  and  now  Day — all  members  of 
the  Prudential  Board  at  my  coming  and  at  my  leaving,  have  now 
passed  on,  as  well  as  a great  company  of  honored  and  now  sainted 
ones  then  occupying  so  prominently — in  my  memory  to-day — these 
sacred  seats  before  me. 


20 


God  be  thanked  for  the  Life  beyond ! For  that  upper  Home 
where  no  seats  are  ever  vacant ; where  loved  ones  never  part ; where 
hearts  are  never  broken,  and  where  all  tears  are  wiped  away ! 

May  we  be  followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  have 
entered  in  through  the  Gates  ! God  give  to  us  the  victory  at  last,  as 
to  so  many  now  crowned  before  him  ! 


Dr.  Gould  closed  with  prayer,  and  after  the  singing 
of  “Abide  with  me”  by  the  choir,  Dr.  Walker  an- 
nounced that  the  casket  wonld  be  opened,  and  a large 
part  of  the  audience  passed  round  to  view  the  remains. 
The  organ  music  during  this  time  was  a prelude  in  E 
minor  by  Chopin,  and  the  adalgio  from  Beethoven’s 
sonata  opus  io,  No.  3. 

The  burial  was  private.  A funeral  service,  attended 
only  by  the  family  and  a few  intimate  friends,  was  also 
held  at  the  house,  preceding  the  public  services  in  the 
church. 


21 


Extracts  from  tfie  t’ress* 


The  following  are  some  of  the  Notices  which  appe- 
ared in  the  Public  Journals,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Day  : 


From  the  Hartford  Daily  Courant,  June  11,  1884. 

JTlHE  death  of  the  Hon.  Calvin  Day  of  this  city  removes  one  of 
1 the  oldest  citizens  of  Hartford,  and  one  who  was  widely 
known  and  universally  beloved  and  esteemed.  He  has  long  been 
identified  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city,  and  has  been 
recognized  as  one  who  was  always  ready  to  assist  in  any  patriotic 
or  benevolent  work.  The  service  he  rendered  the  Union  cause  dur- 
ing the  war  was  of  great  value  and  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  He 
was  one  of  the  men  that  give  strength  and  character  to  a city  and 
his  death,  even  in  ripe  old  age,  is  a public  calamity,  for  he  had  not 
outlived  his  usefulness,  even  after  more  than  four-score  years. 

Major  Calvin  Day  died  at  half  past  eleven  last  evening  of  a 
sudden  congestion  of  the  lungs.  During  the  afternoon  he  had 
been  out  of  doors  superintending  some  workmen.  He  ate  supper 
as  usual,  but  soon  after  was  attacked  by  a chill,  and  later  in  the 
evening  Dr.  Fuller  and  Dr.  Storrs  were  called.  They  arrived 
about  1 1 o’clock,  but  nothing  effectual  could  be  done  and  he  lived 
less  than  half  an  hour.  He  was  8i  years  old. 


22 


Mr.  Day  was  a native  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  where  he  received 
an  Academy  education.  He  removed  to  Hartford  when  a young 
man  and  entered  into  business.  Mr.  Day  appreciated  the  import- 
ance of  Hartford  of  that  time  as  a dry  goods  trade  center. 
Western  merchants  then  came  east  to  buy,  and  this  city  was  a 
central  point  near  to  the  factories,  and  an  advantageous  place  for 
handling  goods.  Drummers  were  nearly  unknown,  but  Mr.  Day, 
early  in  his  wholesale  trade,  adopted  the  plan  of  sending  exper- 
ienced men  to  the  western  country  to  invite  dealers  to  come  here. 
He  formed  with  his  brother  Albert  the  wholesale  firm  of  A.  & C. 
Day,  and  opened  a warehouse  on  the  present  site  of  the  Cheney 
block.  Eventually,  Mr.  Day  formed  a partnership  with  the  late 
E.  H.  Owen,  under  the  firm  name  of  Day,  Owen  & Co.,  and  re- 
moved to  Asylum  street.  Mr.  Day  subsequently  bought  the  site 
opposite  the  Allyn  house,  erected  the  present  building  and  re- 
moved into  it.  He  continued  with  the  firm  until  about  1862, 
when,  having  accumulated  a handsome  fortune,  he  retired.  He 
was  a director  in  the  Hartford  bank  for  forty  years,  and  was  a 
director  in  the  Hartford  Fire  Insurance  Company.  His  connec- 
tions with  other  corporations  were  numerous.  He  was  a director 
in  the  Landers,  Frary  & Clark  company  and  the  American  Hosiery 
company  of  New  Britain,  and  the  Agawam  Canal  company, 
Springfield,  president  of  the  American  mill  in  Rockville,  a director 
in  the  Watkinson  library,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  American  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb, and  a director  in  the 
Insane  Retreat.  For  several  years  he  was  a director,  and  later, 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  old  Hartford,  Providence  and  Fishkill 
road,  retiring  when  the  road  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  New 
York  and  New  England  railroad  company.  His  faith  in  the  road 
was  full,  and  it  is  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  word  Fishkill  was  put 
into  the  charter  name.  He  was  confident  the  road  would  reach 
the  Hudson. 

While  seldom  taking  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  having  no 
desire  for  office,  Mr.  Day  was  always  a valued  and  efficient  worker 
for  his  political  party.  He  was  an  old-fashioned  Jackson  demo- 
crat in  early  life,  and  was  one  of  the  first  twelve  men  in  Hartford 
who  voted  for  Andrew  Jackson,  when  to  vote  for  “ Old  Hickory” 
in  Connecticut  was  far  from  being  a popular  act.  He  was  a con- 


23 


sistent  democrat  down  to  the  time  of  the  election  of  Franklin 
Pierce.  The  attempt  to  repeal  the  Missouri  compromise  disgust- 
ed him  with  the  party,  and  he  with  D.  F.  Robinson,  Mark  How- 
ard, J.  R.  Hawley,  J.  F.  Morris,  Gideon  Welles,  J.  M.  Niles, 
and  others  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  republican  party  of  Hart- 
ford, numerous  other  democrats  following  the  lead  of  such  influ- 
ential men  as  Messrs.  Day,  Welles  and  Niles.  These  republican 
pioneers  met  one  night  in  the  upper  room  of  Colonel  George  P. 
Bissell’s  banking  office  and  prepared  the  first  republican  address 
to  the  voters  of  the  state.  This  was  just  prior  to  the  nomination 
of  Freemont.  After  that  time  Mr.  Day  was  a sturdy  republican 
and  took  part  in  putting  on  its  feet  the  Evening  Press . During 
the  war  he  was  an  active  worker,  and  contributed  liberally  from 
his  means  in  fitting  out  troops.  He  was  a valued  adviser  of  Con- 
necticut’s great  war  governor — Wm.  A.  Buckingham — and  served 
for  many  months  as  chairman  of  the  city  committee  for  raising 
troops.  When  engaged  in  this  patriotic  work  he  gave  largely  of 
his  time,  regardless  of  his  pressing  business  interests.  At  this  time 
or  afterward,  he  never  wanted  nor  would  he  accept  office,  but  if 
any  committee  or  other  work  was  to  be  done,  his  services  could 
always  be  relied  on.  But  once  did  he  accept  a nomination,  and 
that  was  for  the  state  senatorship  in  the  Hartford  district,  at  a 
time  when  the  district  was  so  strongly  democratic  that  his  defeat 
as  a republican  candidate,  was  a certainty. 

Mr.  Day  acquired  his  title  of  “ Major  ” from  having  for  two 
years  commanded  the  Governor’s  Foot  Guard.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  1823,  became  corporal  in  1826,  sergeant  in  1828,  lieu- 
tenant in  1830,  captain  in  1832,  and  was  major  from  1833  to  1835. 
Among  his  old  comrades  in  the  organization  when  he  command- 
ed, but  few  are  now  living.  Among  them  were  Messrs.  Roland 
Mather,  Charles  Seymour,  William  F.  Tuttle,  Charles  B.  Smith, 
Joseph  Langdon,  William  B.  Ely,  G.  A.  Stedman,  Charles  D.  Gil- 
bert, Walter  Keney,  D.  S.  Brooks,  Thomas  Smith,  and  Edward 
Goodwin. 

He  married,  over  half  a century  ago,  Miss  Catharine  Sey- 
mour, sister  of  Mr.  Charles  Seymour  who  died  some  months  ago. 
Not  a death  had  ever  occurred  up  to  that  time  in  the  family,  ex- 
cepting that  of  a grand-child.  The  four  children  are:  Julia  S., 


24 


wife  of  Colonel  George  P.  Bissell ; Mr.  John  C.  Day,  Miss  Caro, 
line  E.  Day,  and  Kate,  wife  of  Joseph  C.  Jackson,  lawyer,  of 
New  York  city.  Through  all  his  long  life  Mr.  Day  was  blessed 
with  vigorous  health.  A day  of  sickness  was  almost  unknown. 

For  over  46  years  Mr.  Day  was  a member  of  the  Center 
church,  and  for  many  years  served  as  chairman  of  the  society’s 
committee.  He  was  one  of  the  men,  who,  by  long  lives  of  hon- 
orable conduct  in  public  and  private  affairs,  have,  by  their  own  ex- 
cellent reputations,  contributed  so  much  to  the  good  reputation 
of  Hartford.  His  loss,  even  at  his  advanced  age,  will  be  widely 
felt,  and  he  will  be  sincerely  missed. 

Major  Day  was  a gentleman  of  striking  personal  appear- 
ance. He  was  of  medium  height,  but  even  in  his  old  age,  had, 
until  within  the  last  two  years,  every  indication  of  strength  and 
vigor — a straight  frame  and  an  elastic  and  active  step.  He 
had  always  a smooth-shaved  face,  never  wearing  whiskers,  and  his 
full  head  of  hair  was  a beautiful  silvery  gray.  He  always  carried 
a care,  but  it  was  generally  tucked  under  his  arm  and  seldom 
touched  the  ground.  It  never  seemed  to  occur  to  him  that  a man 
of  eighty  needed  it  to  lean  upon.  To  see  him,  even  once,  upon 
the  street,  was  to  receive  an  indelible  impression  of  the  dignity 
and  power  that  were  in  him. 


From  the  Hartford  Daily  Post.  June  LI,  1884. 


HE  death  of  Major  Calvin  Day  occurred  at  his  residence  on 


1 Spring  street  on  Tuesday  night  at  1 1:30  o’clock  after  a brief 
illness  of  congestion  of  the  lungs.  He  was  down  town  Monday  and 
during  Tuesday  afternoon  he  had  been  out  attending  to  some 
work  which  was  being  done  at  his  home.  During  the  evening  he 
suffered  a serious  chill  and  Drs.  Storrs  and  Fuller  were  summoned 
to  his  relief.  But  nothing  could  be  done  in  his  behalf  and  death 
ensued  at  11:30,  Major  Day  was  a native  of  Westfield,  Mass, 
and  was  81  years  of  age.  His  entire  business  life  had  been  spent 
in  Hartford,  being  engaged  for  the  most  part  in  the  dry  goods 
trade.  In  connection  with  his  brother,  the  late  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Albert  Day,  he  established  the  wholesale  firm  of  A.  & C. 


25 


Day  and  opened  a warehouse  on  the  present  site  of  the  Cheney 
block.  Subsequently  he  organized  the  firm  of  Day,  Owen  & Co., 
and  removed  to  Asylum  street,  locating  in  the  building  now  occu- 
pied by  The  Evening  Post.  Later  the  property  opposite  the  pres- 
ent Allyn  house  was  purchased  and  the  extensive  building 
erected.  Major  Day  continued  with  the  firm  until  1862,  when  he 
retired  from  active  business,  and  the  firm  of  Owen,  Root  & Childs 
was  formed,  being  now  Root  & Childs. 

In  early  life  he  was  a democrat,  and  acted  with  that  party 
until  the  election  of  Franklin  Pierce  as  president.  The  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  compromise  alienated  him  from  his  old  political  asso  • 
ciates  and  in  union  with  prominent  citizens  of  Hartford,  including 
D.  F.  Robinson,  Mark  Howard,  J.  F.  Morris,  Gideon  Welles, 
Joseph  R.  Hawley,  and  J.  M.  Niles,  organized  the  republican 
movement  here.  During  the  war  Major  Day  was  an  in- 
fluential adviser  of  Governor  Buckingham,  and  was  for  several 
months  chairman  of  the  city  committee  for  raising  troops.  He 
gave  liberally  of  his  time  and  means  for  the  Union  cause,  and 
proved  himself  a patriot  of  whom  his  state  will  ever  be  proud. 
For  46  years  Major  Day  was  a member  of  the  Center  church, 
serving  much  of  the  time  as  chairman  of  the  society’s  committee. 
His  wife  died  during  the  spring.  She  was  a lady  of  the  most 
charming  attainments  and  character,  and  loved  by  all  who  knew 
her.  Four  children  survive  him.  One  of  them  is  the  wife  of 
Colonel  George  P.  Bissell.  The  others  are  Mr.  John  C.  Day, 
Mrs.  Joseph  C.  Jackson,  of  New  York,  and  Miss  Caroline  E.  Day. 
Major  Day  was  a man  of  the  highest  personal  character,  and  his 
memory  will  be  cherished  by  Hartford  as  an  invaluable  possession. 


From  the  Hartford  Daily  Times,  June  11, 1884. 

^ ALVIN  DAY,  Esq.,  an  old  and  much  esteemed  citizen  died, 
^ almost  without  warning,  at  11:30  last  night.  He  was  81 
years  old;  but  notwithstanding  his  age  and  the  protracted  effects  of 
an  accident  which  occurred  about  four  years  ago,  and  which  came 
near  killing  him,  such  was  t e native  vigor  of  his  constitution  that 
he  rallied  and  was  still  seen  actively  about  the  streets  up  to  the  day 


26 


of  his  sudden  death.  He  was  out  yesterday  afternoon,  about  the 
grounds  of  his  fine  mansion  on  Spring  street,  giving  directions  to 
some  workmen,  when,  owing  to  a marked  change  in  the  weather, 
he  probably  took  a cold,  for  after  supper  he  was  taken  with  a chill. 
His  condition  became  worse,  and  though  medical  aid  soon 
arrived,  it  was  unavailing.  He  passed  away  quietly  and  peace- 
fully. 

Mr.  Day  was  a man  of  remarkably  good  judgment.  He  was 
foremost  of  the  very  few  remaining  men  who  in  other  years  were 
for  a long  time  instrumental  in  shaping  or  aiding  many  of  the 
measures  that  so  helped  to  give  to  Hartford  its  prosperity.  The 
want  of  the  active  aid  of  such  men,  in  helping  forward  the  meas- 
ures on  which  such  prosperity  depends,  has  been  sadly  felt  in  this 
city  during  the  last  dozen  years.  Mr.  Day  came  here  early  in  life 
from  Westfield,  Mass.,  his  native  place,  and  entered  into  business 
as  a dry-goods  merchant,  taking  a store  just  north  of  the  old  Cen- 
ter church.  Later  the  wholesale  firm  of  A.  & C.  Day  was  estab- 
lished. Western  merchants  (what  were  “ western  ” then)  in  those 
days  came  not  only  to  New  York  but  here  to  make  their  purchas- 
es, a.nd  Mr.  Day’s  sagacity  led  him  in  those  early  days  to  send  out 
capable  men  to  towns  and  cities  in  what  was  then  the  west,  with 
inducements  to  come  to  Hartford,  for  his  firm  could  undersell  the 
New  York  houses.  Day,  Owen  & Co.,  the  later  style  of  the  firm, 
and  with  which  Hartford  people  who  remember  back  no  farther 
than  about  1848  or  ’50  are  more  familiar,  was  a long  and  well- 
known  Asylum  street  house  doing  a large  business.  Mr.  Day 
subsequently  bought  the  site,  and  erected  and  occupied  the  fine 
brown-stone  building  on  Asylum  street  opposite  the  Allyn  house, 
now  occupied  by  Root  & Childs,  the  latest  successors  of  the  old 
firm.  More  than  twenty  years  ago  Mr.  Day  retired  from  active 
business  ; he  did  not,  however,  by  any  means  cease  to  take  an 
interest  in  business  and  other  affairs  No  man’s  sound  judgment 
was  more  largely  trusted. 

Mr.  Day  in  politics  was  in  former  years  an  old  Jackson  dem- 
ocrat. At  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise,  in  1854,  he 
abandoned  the  democrats  and  was  one  of  the  early  participators 
in  the  then  newly  forming  republican  party.  Mr.  Niles  and  Mr. 
Welles  were  among  those  who  acted  with  him  from  the  democratic 


2 7 


side.  He  was  a firm  upholder  of  all  war  measures,  and  a trusted 
counselor  of  Governor  Buckingham.  He  was  at  various  times 
“ mentioned  ” as  a good  man  for  the  republican  candidate  for 
Governor ; but,  owing  partly  to  the  failure  of  the  republican  con- 
ventions to  see  his  actual  superiority  in  mental  stamina  and 
character,  over  others  who  successively  in  town  got  the  nomina- 
tion, and  partly  also  to  his  own  disinclination  to  run  for  any  office, 
he  never  was  nominated.  But  his  strong  and  positive  character, 
united  with  his  general  sagacity  and  good  judgment,  easily  put  him 
much  above  the  average  material  out  of  which  Governors  are 
made. 

His  military  title  of  “ Major,”  came  from  his  command  from 
1833  to  1835,  of  the  old  Governor’s  Foot  Guard.  Major  Day 
had  in  him  a good  deal  of  the  true  military  quality,  of  the  better 
sort.  It  showed  itself  in  his  erect  carriage  and  high  bearing,  even 
down  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He  enlisted  as  a private  in  the 
Foot  Guard  in  1823,  and  rose  by  successive  degrees  of  promotion 
up  to  the  chief  command  of  that  fine  and  showy  old  corps — which 
is  older  than  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  major-command- 
ant when,  in  June,  1833,  occurred  the  great  display  in  honor  of 
President  Jackson’s  visit  to  Hartford — as  proud  a day  as  the  Ma- 
jor ever  saw. 

His  wife  was  Catharine  Seymour,  whose  death,  a few  months 
ago,  was  the  first,  in  all  that  time  in  that  family,  with  the  sole 
exception  of  a grand-child.  He  leaves  four  children — one 
son  and  three  daughters — all  but  one  married. 

His  membership  in  the  old  Center  church  dated  back  forty-six 
years  or  more.  He  was  a highly  respected  and  influential  man  in 
his  religious  as  in  his  personal,  business,  and  political  life. 

His  striking  personal  presence  will  be  missed  in  the  street, 
and  in  the  business  circles  which  he  still,  even  in  advanced  life, 
was  accustomed  to  visit.  He  looked  as  erect,  and  almost  as  act- 
ive and  vigorous,  in  his  old  age  as  he  did  thirty  years  ago. 


From  the  N.  Y.  Tribune,  June  12, 1881. 


ARTFORD  June  11. — Major  Calvin  Day,  an  old  and  well- 


known  resident  of  this  city,  died  suddenly  on  Tuesday  night 
of  congestion  of  the  lungs.  He  was  81  years  old. 


28 


]W|  R.  DAY  was  born  in  Westfield,  Mass.,  but  began  his  busi- 
^ 1 ness  career  in  Hartford  in  1823.  He  formed  the  wholesale 

firm  of  A.  & C.  Day,  and  sent  experienced  men  west  to  invite  trade, 
a plan  then  hardly  known.  Later  he  organized  the  firm  of  Day, 
Owen  & Co.,  and  remained  a member  until  1862,  when  he  retired 
with  a handsome  fortune.  Mr.  Day  was  connected  with  many 
other  business  enterprises  and  several  public  institutions.  For 
forty  years  he  was  a director  in  the  Hartford  Bank,  and  in  the 
Hartford  Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  was  also  a director  in  the 
American  Hosiery  Company,  of  New  Britain,  and  the  Agawam 
Canal  Company,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  He  was  president  of  the 
American  Mill,  Rockville,  trustee  of  the  Hartford,  Providence  and 
Fishkill  Railroad,  director  in  the  Insane  Retreat,  and  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  American  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb.  In  politics  Mr.  Day  was  originally  an  old-fashioned  Jack- 
son  Democrat,  but,  disgusted  with  Franklin  Pierce  and  the  Miss- 
ouri compromise,  he,  with  Gideon  Welles,  J.  R.  Hawley,  D.  F. 
Robinson,  Mark  Howard  and  J.  F.  Morris,  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  Republican  party  in  Hartford,  and  helped  to  found  The  Eve- 
ning Press.  He  contributed  liberally  toward  the  raising  of  troops 
during  the  war,  and  his  advice  was  constantly  sought  by  Governor 
Buckingham.  His  title  as  Major  was  obtained  in  the  Gover- 
nor’s Foot  Guard. 

Mr.  Day  married  Miss  Catharine  Seymour.  His  children 
are  Julia,  wife  of  Colonel  George  P.  Bissell,  John  C.,  Caroline, 
and  Kate,  wile  of  Joseph  C.  Jackson,  of  this  city. 


From  the  Hartford  County  History,  Osgood:  Boston, 

1886. 

ALVIN  Day,  who  died  in  Hartford,  June  10th,  1884,  was  for 
^ 62  years  a resident  of  the  city,  and  during  the  latter  half  of 

his  life  was  one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Westfield, 
Mass.,  February  26,  1803,  and  was  the  son  of  Ambrose  Day,  a sub- 
stantial farmer  of  that  place.  Coming  to  Hartford  in  1822,  he  soon 
undertook  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business,  and  became  largely 
instrumental  in  making  Hartford,  as  it  was  for  many  years,  a great 


29 


distributing  point  in  this  industry.  From  1828  to  1842  he  was  a 
member  of  the  firms  of  A.  & C.  Day  and  A.  & C.  Day  & Co., 
his  elder  brother  Albert,  who  was  Lieut.-Governor  of  the  State  in 
1 856-7,  being  the  senior  partner.  Subsequently,  and  until  his  re- 
tirement from  active  business  in  1862,  Mr.  Calvin  Day  was  the 
head  of  the  firm  of  Day,  Owen  & Co.,  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  of  the  great  Hartford  wholesale  houses. 

Mr.  Day  was  largely  interested  in  the  various  industries  of  Hart- 
ford, manufacturing,  insurance  and  banking,  and  was  for  nearly 
forty  years  a director  in  the  Hartford  Bank,  and  the  Hartford  Fire 
Insurance  Company.  He  was  also  connected  with  the  manage- 
ment of  many  of  the  humane  and  benevolent  institutions  of  the 
city,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Center  Church. 

He  was  for  many  years  Vice-President  of  the  Retreat  for  the 
Insane,  for  the  last  sixteen  years  of  his  life  he  was  President  of 
the  American  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  and  for  forty  years 
he  was  connected  as  Secretary  and  President  with  the  Wadsworth 
Atheneum,  which  he  was  influential  in  establishing.  He  was 
also  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  construction  of  the  Hart- 
ford, Providence  & Fishkill  Railroad,  regarding  it  as  an  important 
means  for  the  development  of  the  city,  and  took  a leading  part  in 
its  management  for  many  years.  He  was  Major  of  the  Governor’s 
Foot  Guard  from  1833  to  1835.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
democrat,  but  he  left  the  democratic  party  in  1854,  on  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  with  his  friends,  Gideon  Welles, 
John  M.  Niles  and  others,  was  active  in  establishing  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  the  Hartford  Evening  Press,  as  the  party  organ  in 
Connecticut.  He  was  one  of  those  who  prepared  the  first  Re- 
publican address  issued  in  Connecticut,  and  during  the  war  he 
was  a close  adviser  of  Governor  Buckingham,  and  in  confidential 
relations  with  him.  Mr.  Day  was  thoroughly  identified  with  much 
of  what  was  best  in  the  growth  and  development  of  the  city,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  81  years,  widely  known  and  universally  esteem- 
ed and  respected. 

He  married  December  5th,  1827,  Miss  Catharine  Seymour,  of 
Hartford,  whose  death  preceded  his  own  only  by  a few  months. 


30 


FUNERAL  OF  MAJOR  CALVIN  DAY. 


From  the  Hartford  Daily  Courant,  June  13, 1881. 

KINNEY  on  behalf  of  the  Governor’s  Foot  Guard 


^ L tendered  a general  escort  for  the  beloved  veteran  com- 
mander of  he  company.  The  offer  was  declined  with  thanks,  the 
family  prefering  to  have  no  military  display  at  the  funeral.  A dele- 
gation of  the  company  and  a committee  of  the  veterans  will  attend 
the  funeral  exercises  at  Center  church.  Active  members  are  re- 
quested to  meet  at  the  armory  at  2:30  p.m.,  in  dark  clothes,  fatigue 
caps,  and  white  gloves.  Veteran  members  of  the  company  are  re- 
quested to  meet  at  the  same  place  and  time,  with  dark  clothes, 
and  soft-felt  hat  and  white  gloves. 

Many  of  the  corporations  with  which  Mr.  Day  was  connected 
will  attend  the  funeral.  Among  them,  the  directors  of  the  Ameri- 
can Asylum  are  to  attend  in  a body,  and  the  teachers  and  pupils 
will  also  be  present.  The  directors  of  the  Hartford  Fire  and  those 
of  the  Gas  company  will  also  attend. 


31 


Resofutions  of  Hesjiest 


a special  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Ameri- 
can Asylum  at  Hartford  for  the  education  and 
instruction  of  Deaf  and  Dumb,  held  June  12th,  1884, 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted. 


IN  attempting  to  place  on  record  some  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Calvin  Day,  late  president  of  this  corporation,  the  directors 
feel  that  they  are  not  merely  discharging  a duty,  but  are  giving  ex- 
pression to  a sense  of  personal  bereavement,  common  to  all  our 
number,  and  to  all  the  instructors  and  friends  of  the  asylum. 

Mr  Day  became  a member  of  this  board  in  1842,  and  has 
ever  since  borne  no  trifling  share  in  its  administration.  For  the 
last  sixteen  years  he  has  been  its  president.  But  for  over  forty 
years  he  has  given  much  time  and  care  to  the  details  and  the  gen- 
eral direction  of  the  asylum  ; representing  its  interests  before  the 
authorities  of  our  own  and  other  states,  befriending  its  teachers 
and  pupils,  counseling  its  officers,  and  promoting  in  innumera- 
ble ways  its  material  prosperity  and  its  highest  aims.  In  all  asso- 
ciations, Mr.  Day’s  vigor,  integrity,  keen  intelligence  and  sound 
judgment  have  made  themselves  felt ; but,  with  these  qualities  of 
his  character,  there  has  been  displayed  in  the  management  of  the 


32 


asylum,  an  earnest  and  tender  solicitude,  rarely  given  to  any  ob- 
ject outside  one’s  own  family  and  personal  interests. 

Men  of  strong  will  and  marked  ability  not  infrequently  be- 
come intolerant,  but  Mr.  Day  was  never  the  slave  of  even  his  own 
opinions  and  prejudices.  He  was  ready  to  accord  to  others  their 
right  of  judgment,  and  to  submit  to  the  decision  of  the  majority. 

If  disappointed  he  never  became  an  obstructionist  ora  grum- 
bler. He  was  especially  kind  and  encouraging  to  young  men. 
Frank,  positive,  energetic,  but  generous  and  considerate  of  others, 
his  friends  could  confidently  depend  on  his  loyalty  to  them,  and 
on  his  absolute  sincerity,  and  thus  co-operation  with  him  was  al- 
ways a pleasure. 

To  the  roll  of  honored  presidents  of  the  asylum  in  years  long 
past — John  Cotton  Smith,  Wadsworth,  Terry,  Williams,  and  Ells- 
worth— we  now  sorrowfully  add  the  name  of  no  unworthy  com- 
panion, our  honored  and  beloved  last  president,  Calvin  Day. 

Resolved,  That  as  a mark  of  our  respect  we  will  attend  the 
funeral  in  a body,  and  that  a copy  of  this  record  be  transmitted 
to  the  family  of  Mr.  Day. 

Resolved,  That  the  principal,  instructors  and  pupils  of  the 
asylum  be  invited  also  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Day. 

Atwood  Collins, 
Clerk  Board  of  Auditors. 


Hartford  National  Bank, 

June  nth,  1884. 

T a meeting  of  the  board  of  directors,  held  this 
day,  it  was  voted  to  place  on  record  the  follow- 
ing minutes  regarding  the  death  of  Hon. 
Calvin  Day  : 

IN  the  home  in  which  Calvin  Day  has  lived  so  long  there  are 
needed  no  pro  forma  obituary  resolutions  of  a corporation 
setting  forth  his  virtues  or  expressing  regret  for  his  departure 
and  sympathy  for  his  friends,  yet  we  cannot  leave  our  records  silent 
in  respect  to  one  who  for  nearly  fifty  years  has  been  a director  in 


33 


this  bank.  Of  quick  perception,  sound  judgment,  stern,  aggressive, 
uncompromising  in  his  opinions,  his  voice  gave  no  uncertain  sound, 
yet  he  was  most  courteous,  friendly,  kind  and  pure.  His  coun- 
sels in  times  of  prosperity  were  conservative — he  never  lost  his 
balance  ; in  those  of  panic  and  depression,  sustaining — he  never 
lost  his  courage.  We  record  this  brief  tribute  of  our  respect  for 
the  man,  and  our  appreciation  of  his  long  and  valued  services 
which  his  associates  will  ever  hold  in  pleasant  remembrance. 

W.  S.  Bridgman, 

Cashier. 


TT  T a meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Retreat  for 
(£r\  the  Insane,  held  on  the  1 2th  day  of  June,  1 884, 
the  following  minute  was  adopted  and  entered 
upon  the  record  : 


a T N the  death  of  the  Hon.  Calvin  Day,  which  occurred  on  the 
^ 10th  day  of  June,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one 
years,  the  city  has  lost  one  of  its  most  distinguished  and  respected 
citizens,  whose  presence  upon  our  streets,  in  our  places  of  busi- 
ness, and  in  our  religious,  educational,  charitable  and  patriotic 
assemblies,  has  for  all  these  years  marked  him  as  a man  to  be  de- 
pended upon ; as  the  man  whose  influence  and  voice  would  be  al- 
ways for  good  order,  and  for  the  advancement  and  promotion  of 
the  great  and  controlling  interest  of  the  city  of  his  adoption,  and 
whose  great  purpose  was,  to  secure  the  moral  and  material  inter- 
ests and  advancement  of  his  fellows.  The  record  ofhis  life  is  im- 
pressed upon  the  city  in  which  he  lived  ; upon  the  church  of  which 
he  was  a most  exemplary  and  consistent  member ; upon  the  ex- 
tensive industrial  and  business  enterprises  which  have  distinguish- 
ed the  city  and  which,  to  no  small  extent,  have  been  promoted 
and  made  successful  through  his  efforts,  persevering  endeavors  and 
good  judgment;  upon  the  great  religious  charities  of  the  times,  to 
which  he  contributed  with  an  open  hand,  upon  the  benevolent 
and  educational  undertakings  which  give  character  to  Hartford, 


34 


and  are  exemplified  in  our  schools,  our  asylums  and  our  Retreat ; 
and  in  his  successful  efforts  when  a young  man  to  secure  for  the 
city  and  its  citizens  the  erection  of  the  Atheneum  building,  with 
the  libraries  and  art  collections  accommodated  there.  His  patriot- 
ism and  love  for  the  Union  led  to  his  selection  as  the  trusted  ad- 
viser and  counselor  of  Governor  Buckingham  during  the  dark  and 
most  trying  and  discouraging  period  of  the  war,  and  the  work  he 
did  in  that  direction  is  entitled  to  our  grateful  remembrance.  His 
integrity  of  character  is  seen  in  his  whole  life,  and  in  the  esteem 
, in  which  he  was  held  in  this  whole  community.  Though  he  had 
well-settled  and  decided  views  and  opinions  of  his  own  and  fear- 
lessly gave  expression  to  what  he  believed  to  be  right  and  proper, 
he  was  tolerant  and  considerate  of  the  views  of  others.  His  lib- 
erality and  large-heartedness  is  seen  in  the  expenditure  of  his  time 
and  money  in  the  advancement  of  all  good  and  charitable  enter- 
prises. For  these  many  years  he  has  been  an  active  and  efficient 
member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  this  Retreat.  The  benefit 
of  his  counsel  and  judgment  is  seen  in  the  beauty  of  its  grounds 
and  surroundings,  and  in  the  comfort  and  home-like  accommoda- 
tions of  its  halls  and  rooms.  In  his  death  the  Retreat  has  lost  an 
earnest  friend  and  benefactor ; an  able  counselor  and  its  second 
officer  and  oldest  director,  and  each  member  of  this  board  a 
friend  and  associate  whose  memory  we  shall  delight  to  cherish  and 
honor.” 

Jonathan  B.  Bonce, 

Clerk. 


M 


Hartford  City  Gas  Light  Company, 
Hartford,  Conn.,  June  12,  1884. 

T a special  meeting  of  this  board,  called  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  action  in  regard  to  the  death 
of  Major  Calvin  Day,  the  following  minute 
was  directed  to  be  entered  upon  the  records  : 


Major  Day  was  a promoter  of  this  company  at  its  organiza- 
tion ; has  been  one  of  its  directors  ever  since,  and  has  greatly 


35 


helped  to  make  its  prosperous  history.  His  connection  with  this 
company  was  typical  of  his  character  as  a citizen  of  Hartford. 
Prompt  to  enter  whatever  was  needed  to  benefit  the  cify,  he  was 
generous  of  his  time  and  energy  to  achieve  success  and  never  wav- 
ered in  his  fidelity  either  to  his  associates  or  to  the  public  enter- 
prises in  which  he  had  engaged.  He  illustrated  in  his  life  the  value 
of  character,  and  his  name  became  emblematic  of  business,  honor 
and  integrity.  During  the  years  of  his  activity  in  Hartford  he  was 
associated  with  many  men  of  marked  individuality,  but  none  sur- 
passed him  in  the  strength  and  vigor  with  which  he  pursued  his 
and  their  generous  purposes. 

In  testimony  of  our  respect  the  board  will  attend  Major  Day’s 
funeral,  and  a copy  of  this  minute  will  be  sent  to  his  family. 

Attest,  Thomas  Evans, 

Secretary. 


M 


T a special  meeting  of  the  board 
the  Hartford  Fire  Insurance 
June  12,  1884,  the  following 
resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 


of  directors  of 
Company,  held 
preamble  and 


A Fy  HE  REAS  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  the  exercise  of 
His  all-wise  providence,  to  remove  by  death  our  esteemed 
associate  and  vice-president,  Calvin  Day,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Day,  the  company  loses 
an  able  counselor,  who  has,  for  nearly  forty  years,  been  closely 
identified  with  its  welfare,  and  we,  his  associate  directors,  place 
on  record  our  appreciation  of  his  faithfulness  to  his  trust,  and  our 
sorrow  at  his  sudden  decease. 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  his  family  our  heartfelt  sympathy 
in  this  time  of  their  bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  as  a mark  of  respect  to  our  departed  associate, 
we  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a body. 

Resolved,  That  a copy  of  these  resolutions  be  entered  upon 
the  records  of  the  board,  and  a copy  be  transmitted  to  his  family. 


36 


M 


T the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
of  Landers,  Frary  & Clark,  held  on  the 
tenth  day  of  June,  1884,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  : 


T T is  the  wish  of  this  board  of  directors  to  give  expression  of 
their  loss  in  the  removal  by  death  of  our  late  fellow  member, 
the  Hon.  Calvin  Day. 

The  appreciation  of  his  marked  services  to  this  company  in 
its  time  of  need,  was  evidenced  by  a special  vote  of  this  board 
tendered  to  him  on  the  17th  of  May,  1880. 

And  now,  lamenting  our  loss,  we  bear  testimony  to  his  char- 
acter as  a valued  adviser,  a true  friend,  and  a Christian  gentleman. 

The  Secretary  is  directed  to  enter  this  resolution  on  the 
records  of  the  board  and  to  forward  a copy  of  the  same  to  the  fam- 
ily of  the  deceased. 


N adjourned  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  Wads- 
worth Atheneum  was  held  Saturday  after- 
noon, the  Hon.  William  R.  Cone,  the  president, 
in  the  chair.  Mr.  J.  F.  Morris,  the  committee  appoint- 
ed to  draft  resolutions  upon  the  death  of  the  Hon. 
Calvin  Day,  reported  the  following  which  were  adopted 
and  ordered  on  record. 


A lyHEREAS,  it  has  pleased  God  in  his  Providence  to  remove 
^ from  us  by  death,  Calvin  Day,  the  late  president  of  this 
institution,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  while  the  death  of  Mr.  Day  is  one  mourned 
by  other  institutions  in  this  city  with  which  he  was  connected  and 
also  by  the  general  community,  it  is  specially  one  which  this  insti- 
tution has  reason  to  most  deeply  deplore. 

Mr.  Day  was  identified  with  the  Atheneum  from  its  earliest 
existence.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  subscribers  for  erecting 


37 


this  building,  held  in  Union  hall,  December  7th,  1841,  Hon. 
Thomas  Day,  chairman,  Mr.  Day  was  appointed  secretary,  and 
made  chairman  of  a committee  to  solicit  additional  subscriptions. 
Of  the  building  committee  appointed  February  23d,  1842,  con- 
sisting of  Alfred  Smith,  James  B.  Hosmer,  Gideon  Welles,  David 
Watkinson,  David  F.  Robinson,  Erastus  Smith  and  Calvin  Day, 
Mr.  Day  was  the  last  survivor.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders, June  27th,  1842,  the  first  meeting  after  the  incorporation 
of  the  Atheneum  at  the  May  session  of  the  legislature  that  year — 
Mr.  Day  was  chosen  secretary  and  thereafter  annually  re-elected 
until  the  resignation  of  Alfred  Smith,  April  2 2d,  1862,  when  he 
was  chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Smith  as  president,  and  continued  in 
the  presidency  until  his  death.  Twenty  years  service  as  secretary 
and  twenty-two  years  as  president,  forty-two  years  in  all,  measure 
Mr.  Day’s  official  connection  with  Wadsworth  Atheneum. 

For  these  long  and  valuable  services,  cheerfully  given  and 
faithfully  performed,  we  feel  that  his  memory  should  ever  be  held 
in  grateful  remembrance  by  this  institution. 

Resolve, d That  we  place  on  our  records  this  testimony  of  our 
loss  by  the  breaking  up  of  this  long  association  with  Mr.  Day,  and 
that  a copy  of  these  resolutions,  signed  by  the  president  and  attest- 
ed by  the  secretary,  be  communicated  to  his  family. 

Attested,  Wm.  R.  Cone, 

J.  H.  Trumrull,  Sec.  Pres. 


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